Region 11

Fort Worth

Began 8th grade in 2011

40,368 students

Graduated from high school

32,985 (81.7%)

Statewide: 81.1%

Enrolled in college

21,113 (52.3%)

Statewide: 51.8%

Graduated from college

9,023 (22.4%)

Statewide: 22.0%

Each year, approximately 300,000 students begin eighth grade in a Texas public school. National employment and earnings statistics suggest that these students will have materially better prospects as adults if they finish high school and enroll in and complete a post-secondary certificate or degree program. Using data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency, the Tribune is providing a look into the outcomes of students who started eighth grade in a Texas public school from 1997 to 2011.

Of the 40,368 students in Region 11 who began eighth grade in 2011, 22.4 percent received a certificate or degree from a Texas college or university within six years of their anticipated high school graduation date. For context, a 13-year-old student who started 8th grade in 1997 is about 40 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2011 is now about 26.

We have broken down these numbers by ethnicity, gender and economic status.

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Ethnicity

A breakdown, by ethnicity, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by ethnicity, 2011

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 5,600 4,359 2,919 881
Hispanic 12,896 10,318 5,523 2,001
White 18,897 15,730 10,788 5,135
Other 2,975 2,578 1,883 1,006
Total 40,368 32,985 21,113 9,023

Gender

A breakdown, by gender, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by gender, 2011

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 19,603 16,373 11,167 5,253
Male 20,765 16,612 9,946 3,770
Total 40,368 32,985 21,113 9,023

Economic status

A breakdown, by economic status, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by economic status, 2011

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 18,716 14,229 7,517 2,380
Not disadvantaged 21,652 18,756 13,596 6,643
Total 40,368 32,985 21,113 9,023